James Lacey to Receive College Award for Service

Student James Lacey will receive the Salmon P. Chase Award of Chase College of Law this year, presented annually at commencement to a graduating student who represents Chase’s legacy for service to others as a Cincinnati lawyer in the mid-1800s.

• James is a part-time student who works as senior manager of the Community Resource Coordination Department at Activities Beyond the Classroom, a Cincinnati-based nonprofit. His work focuses on providing academic support, financial relief and social services to underserved students and families.

• As a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, he has led monthly initiatives aimed at uplifting Black youth and families, mentoring young men through the Alpha Esquires program, facilitating college readiness workshops and organizing quarterly mobile food drives, in partnership with the Free store Foodbank in Cincinnati.

• His thoughts: “Very early in my law school journey, I realized that we each carry a unique perspective and the best way to understand each other is to stop and listen to one another. The more we lean into that, the stronger our community becomes. I’ve embraced that mindset every day, and I believe my peers and professors saw that authenticity and consistency as something worthy of this award.”

• His plans: “After graduation, I look forward to continuing to grow at the intersection of law and business, as a litigation associate, pursuing opportunities that allow me to apply both skill sets in meaningful ways. Looking ahead, I see my career evolving toward consumer protection; where I can use that foundation to help build systems that are fair, transparent and centered on everyday people.”